Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Electoral Commission is a body wholly independent of the Government. The commission reports directly to Parliament, including through the Speaker's Committee. A member of the Speaker's Committee responds to questions about the operation of the Electoral Commission in the House of Commons.
	The Electoral Commission resource accounts are in the public domain. They can be accessed at www. electoralcommission.org.uk/about-us/annualreport.cfm.
	The accounts are also laid annually before Parliament and are available in the Library of both Houses.
	Taken from the Electoral Commission's resource accounts, the net operating cost of the Electoral Commission in each year since it was established are:
	
		
			 Year Net operating costs 
			 2006-07 £22,316,000 
			 2005-06 £21,916,000 
			 2004-05 £24,824,000 
			 2003-04 £19,884,000 
			 2002-03 £18,023,000 
			 2001-02 £6,600,000 
			 2000-01 £1,398,000 
		
	
	2000-01 figure is from appropriation account statement of outturn; figures for 2001-02 onwards are net operating costs in resource accounts.

Lord West of Spithead: The Enforcement Strategy published in March 2007 sets out how the Border and Immigration Agency will ensure and enforce compliance with our immigration laws, removing the most harmful people first and denying the privileges of the United Kingdom to those here illegally. Copies of the document are placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It is also available to view at www.bia. homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managin gourborders/enforcementstrategy/